Researchers at Chemnitz University of Technology studied how pedestrians responded to an automated shuttle approaching at different speeds, operating in automated, manual and tele-operated modes.

Initial findings showed that operating mode had little effect on participants’ reported experience. Higher speeds slightly reduced perceived safety and comfort.

A separate study varied the shuttle’s braking profile and final stopping position. Both influenced how pedestrians perceived the interaction, suggesting that people respond to how a vehicle slows down and where it stops, beyond simply whether it yields.

These are preliminary findings from a campus shuttle setting, with further testing needed across other vehicles and road scenarios.